Super duper easy Milk Chocolates with Almond Crunch made with only 4 ingredients! They are the perfect edible Christmas gift - you get a lot of bang for your buck with these minimal effort milk chocolates. Based on a Norwegian favorite, the Krokanrull.
If you like to make your own version of store bought chocolates, I can also recommend my take on Rolos or Center, salted caramel filled milk chocolates!
Edible Christmas Gifts are my favorite. I get to bake AND give a gift in one activity. The gifts are more personal and given much more thought into than buying yet another sweater and scented candles you don't really need (ok, maybe I do both). And so each year, I always make several bags of mixed chocolates and truffles to give to friends.
I usually include these almond crunch milk chocolates, peppermint filled dark chocolates, peppermint cream cheese filled truffles, peppermint patties and dreamy creamy chocolate coffee truffles. I have a few others in my arsenal as well, but you'll have to wait for those. Meanwhile, these will be more than enough to fill a versatile gift bag where there's something for everyone!
Speaking of gift bags, check this box of chocolates post out for ideas to make chocolatey edible gifts for Christmas (or any other time)!
What is Krokan - the Almond Crunch?
So in essence, these almond crunch milk chocolates contain two things; krokan and milk chocolate. Krokan is caramelized sugar with almonds and butter. The word 'krokan' derives from the French word 'croquant' which means crunchy or crisp. So I'm translating it to almond crunch!
It is really easy to make, even easier than those traditional pecan pralines, as there's no need for a candy thermometer. Begin by adding parchment paper to a baking tray and gathering the ingredients (1). In a cast iron skillet, add the butter. And once the butter has just melted, add in the sugar. Give it a stir with a wooden spoon, it will look lumpy (2).
Add in the whole almonds, there's no need to skin them (3). Keep stirring on medium-low heat for around 10 minutes.
It will look like grainy and lumpy for a while, but after around 10 minutes the sugar will start to melt again and it smells nutty and caramelized (4). It may be sooner for you, so just keep an eye on it. Once this happens, quickly transfer the mixture over to the parchment paper. Smooth it out into one layer of almonds (5).
This mixture now needs to cool down to crisp up. Around 30 minutes to an hour. Once it's cool, crack it into smaller pieces and place in a bag (6). Now it's time to crushing it with something heavy, like a rolling pin (7). Keep on crushing until it's pretty fine, like in the photo (8).
This krokan will last for about 3 months in an airtight container, although we will use it right away!
How long do milk chocolates last? Can they freeze?
As the almond crunch lasts for three months, these milk chocolates can last equally long. It may depend on how you store them of course. When chocolate starts to whiten, it's still ok to eat, it's just lacking that deep, delicious chocolate flavor. But seriously though, these will NEVER last that long. I have made a batch this year and I'm starting to realize I need to make another batch to give to friends and family, as I've eaten a big chunk out of them already (and I'm only on day 2 ½).
You can freeze them, but there's really no need for that, as they last pretty long in an airtight container in semi-cold room temperature.
You Don't Like Nuts in Chocolates?
Hey, me neither! But I am confident you will like these. Even kids love krokanrull in Norway, it's not really nutty at all. The sugar caramelizes the almonds, making it more of a sweet crunch than nutty. Of course, there's a slight hint of nuttiness, but not those big chunks of nuts you can get in Belgian pralines. Give them a try, and if you still find them too nutty - give them away!
How to make Almond Crunch Milk Chocolates
You've already made the krokan, or almond crunch and that's the ´hard´part. Now all we need to do is melt some chocolate. I like to break the chocolate into pieces, placing them in a large glass bowl or some other microwave safe bowl. Then I place them in the microwave for 30 seconds, give it a stir, then 30 seconds more, give it a stir. Keep on doing this until the chocolate is almost melted. Then stir until it is completely melted. This way we don't burn the chocolate.
Now add in the almond crunch. I add 3 large tablespoon for 300g (10.5 oz) milk chocolate, but any ratio will do. This almond crunch is about 6 tbsp, so roughly 21 oz for that amount is good. You can choose the closest block of chocolate you get, which is probably 5 x 4 oz blocks in the US. I highly recommend choosing high quality chocolate, as these milk chocolates only contain 4 ingredients and chocolate being the main one.
Pour into your favorite chocolate moulds, small bite sized are perfect for gift giving but bars are also delish. Let cool in the refrigerator. Once set, you can remove them from the moulds and keep in an airtight container.
Did You Like These Almond Crunch Milk Chocolates? Here's More Edible Christmas Gifts!
- Peppermint Dark Chocolates
- Easy Peppermint Patties
- Peppermint Cream Cheese Filled Chocolates
- Dreamy Creamy Chocolate Coffee Truffles
- Homemade Peppermint Marshmallows
- Dasher's Creamy Eggnog
- Fudgy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
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📖 Recipe
4-ingredient Almond Crunch Milk Chocolates (Krokanrull)
Super duper easy Milk Chocolates with Almond Crunch with only 4 ingredients! They are the perfect edible Christmas gift, based on a Norwegian favorite, the Krokanrull.
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon butter, 8g
- 5 tablespoon whole almonds, not skinned, 60g
- 4 tablespoon caster sugar, 50g
- 21 oz high quality milk chocolate*, 600g
Instructions
Krokan - Almond Crunch
- Preparation: Begin by adding parchment paper to a baking tray and gathering the ingredients.
- Butter then sugar: In a cast iron skillet, add the butter. And once the butter has just melted, add in the sugar. Give it a stir with a wooden spoon, it will look lumpy.
- Add in the almonds: Add in the whole almonds, there’s no need to skin them. Keep stirring on medium-low heat for around 10 minutes. It will look like grainy and lumpy for a while, but after around 10 minutes the sugar will start to melt again and it smells nutty and caramelized. It may be sooner for you, so just keep an eye on it. Once this happens, quickly transfer the mixture over to the parchment paper. Smooth it out into one layer of almonds.
- Cool and crush: This mixture now needs to cool down to crisp up. Around 30 minutes. Once it’s cool, crack it into smaller pieces and place in a bag. Crush with something heavy, like a rolling pin. Keep on crushing until it’s pretty fine, or to your desired texture.
Krokanrull - Almond Crunch Milk Chocolates
- Melt chocolate: Break the chocolate into pieces, placing them in a large glass bowl or some other microwave safe bowl. Then place them in the microwave for 30 seconds, give it a stir, then 30 seconds more, give it a stir. Keep on doing this until the chocolate is almost melted. Then stir until it is completely melted.
- Add the almond crunch: I add 3 large tablespoon for 300g (10.5 oz) milk chocolate, but any ratio will do. This almond crunch is about 6 tbsp, so roughly 21 oz for that amount is good. You can choose the closest blocks of chocolate you get.
- Pour into your favorite chocolate moulds, small bite sized are perfect for gift giving but bars are good too. Let cool in the refrigerator, about 30 minutes. Once set, you can remove them from the moulds and keep in an airtight container.
Notes
* Because this recipe has very few ingredients and chocolate being the main one, I highly recommend finding high quality chocolate and not chocolate chips.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 60 Serving Size: 1 krokanrullAmount Per Serving: Calories: 60Total Fat: 3.3gSaturated Fat: 2.1gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 9mgCarbohydrates: 6.8gFiber: 0.4gProtein: 0.9g
Lathiya
Thursday 9th of January 2020
Oh wow, how great this recipe is. The crunch in between the soft chocolate is out of the world.
Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice
Monday 13th of January 2020
Yes I definitely love that crunch too!
Jenni LeBaron
Wednesday 18th of December 2019
These Krokanrull are so tasty-looking! I bet these would be tremendous to add to a holiday gift box, though I'd have to keep a few for myself too because they look pretty spectacular!
Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice
Sunday 22nd of December 2019
That is exactly what I'm doing too. Thank you.
Katie
Monday 16th of December 2019
These sound fabulous! I love nutty chocolates so these sound right up my street!
Katie xoxo
Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice
Monday 16th of December 2019
Thank you so much!
Amanda
Monday 16th of December 2019
I just love these little candies! They're so easy to make but super delicious and perfect for the holidays. Thanks so much for sharing!
Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice
Monday 16th of December 2019
Thank you so much, Amanda!
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness
Sunday 15th of December 2019
There is no way that I am NOT making this over the holidays!! They look so perfect as snacks, and seem fairly easy to make :)
Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice
Monday 16th of December 2019
Thank you so much, Cathleen! They really are easy to make!